Forgiveness...

I'm a member of an e-mail group called Healing the Earth_Healing Ourselves which isn't (warning!) a Christian group--not like you might expect me to post about--but many of their ideas (herbal, food, natural living, etc...) appeal to me and I enjoy reading the posts.  The following was written by a member named Grandfather Peter and really speaks to my heart for this new year.  As a perfectionist, who is really hard on myself (not so much on others), this is a theme of my life for myself at this point--having made a "few" ;-) bad decisions in the past. 

Grandfather Peter graciously gave me permission to reprint his thoughtful post on my blog and I hope that it will minister to others as much as it has myself...

GRANDFATHERS PRAYER FOR TODAY.

  

A wise grandmother once told me to forgive the users and takers in the world for they have taught you a lesson not to be used or taken. But she also said "Without compassion forgiveness does not work. Today may I start by forgiving myself?

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Forgiveness.

At this time around the time around the Winter Solstice, Christmas and the New Year there is a natural resonance that is resplendent with the song of Forgiveness. It is a quality of Spirit easily accessed, embodied, activated and experienced. Forgiveness is the key in which the song of life is sung at the Winter Solstice, just as Appreciation is at the time of the Summer Solstice.

Forgiveness is, however, not something we do. It is not something we offer to another (nor our own Self). Forgiveness is a state of being, a frequency at which our Soul resonates when Forgiveness sings its song. When we are in the state of Forgiveness we may hold attention upon the presence of another (or our own Self), embracing that person in Forgiveness.

When we are in the state of Forgiveness all that we place our attention upon, in a sincere attitude of acknowledgment and responsibility, dissolves in the burst of Love that comes forth from the relinquishment of our guilt, anger, pain, resentment, grudge or debt. From the release of guilt arises the possibility of apology and atonement. When we release resentment the poison it spreads through our entire interaction with the world is drained, leaving the way for understanding to grow. As we forgive the debts owed us, but never paid - be they financial, emotional or obligations - we are able to let go of betrayal and the fear that unless we are paid in full we will suffer hardship, when, in actuality, if someone has owed you (money or whatever) for over a year, and you are still alive and able to make it through another day/week/month, then really, you no longer truly require the indebted asset to survive. You have, somehow, made it. By relinquishing the grudge of debt you not only free the other party from their suffering, but your own suffering is released as well. After all, if that person could have paid you, if they were capable of it, they would have done so. If they are not capable (and I include the capability of conscience in that), they will never pay you anyway... so let it go! At that point, holding a grudge of debt only promotes you as being 'right', and with it, poisoned with mistrust, resentment, anger and pain. And this helps you how?

For Forgiveness to be active in our life does not require that we announce to the persons we hold in Forgiveness that we have done so (though, sometimes, it is appropriate that we do so). Forgiveness does not require that the other person has asked us to forgive them. It is not relevant as to whether the other person forgives us as well. The burden of judgment and resentment that is strung about the neck of us each is of our own concern and choosing. The guilt and judgment we carry we carry in our own heart. Forgiveness allows us the means of releasing this poison when we are sincere in our acknowledgment of culpability and responsibility. Forgiveness does not make 'OK' a wrong, nor is Forgiveness itself the act of atonement that may be required to reinstate balance. It does not let us 'off the hook'. Forgiveness enables us to no longer be crippled with shame and anger, so that we can embark afresh upon a new course in life, a course charted into the vast ocean of Compassion and a greater availability to the

All-That-Is that we call Life.

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Hsotha Petre

Grandfather Peter

http://grandfatherpeter.multiply.com/